Airline Leg-room Chart

Airlines measure legroom as seat pitch - the distance from the front of the seat to the back of the seat in front.

The minimum distance required between seats by the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Airworthiness Notice No.64, issue 2 of the 29th October 2001 is 26 inches. This is equivalent to a seat pitch of about 28 inches.

It's worth noting that only three airlines use the minimum . . . All British!

Oddly enough, the most leg room available in economy seating is on Air China, closely followed by Air India, (both countries, of course?, noted for their extra tall citizens).

The information should be used as a guide only as the pitch may vary according to the type of aircraft operated by the airline and is subject to change by the airline without notice.

Airlines are listed in alphabetical order. * - Indicates UK main "Budget" carriers.
Airline (Economy seats) Inches
Aer Lingus  29-32
Air Canada  31-34
Air Europa Spain  29-30
Air France  31
Air Madrid  32
Air Portugal  33
American Airlines  33-35
BMI UK  32
BMI Baby  29 *
BA  31
Cathay P'fic  32
Continental  31-32
"" Express  31
Delta  30-33
Easyjet  29 *
Emirates  32-34
Flybe  31 *
GB Airways  31
Iberia Spain  31-32
Jet2 UK  30 *
JetBlue USA  32
KLM  31-32
Midwest USA  34
"" Express  33-34
Monarch  28-30 *
MyTravel UK  28-30 *
NorthWest  30-32
Qantas  31-32
Ryanair  30 *
SkyWest USA  31
Song USA  33
Southwest US  32-34
Spanair Spain  31
TAP  33
Thomas Cook  28-33 *
United USA  31-33
"" Express  31-33
US Airways  31-34
"" Express  30-31
"" Shuttle  33-34
Virgin Atlantic  31
Zoom Canada  31